Device for giving ice massages



d 8, 0 E- M; s'rRAucH 50 DEVICE FOR GIVING ICE MASSAGES Filed Dec. 12', 1947 IN VEN TOR. t 'LLA M, 57RAU6H ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR GIVING ICE MASSAGES Ella M. Strauch, Denver, Colo.

Application December 12, 1947, Serial No. 791,219

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in massage devices and has reference more particularly to a massage device for use in giving ice massages.

The stimulating effect of ice rubs has long been known and has been practiced by some for a long time.

It has also been known that facial, neck and upper chest massages with ice or ice cold water have a very stimulating effect and tend to make the flesh firm and retard the development of wrinkles and flabby flesh folds.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device for use in giving such ice massage treatments, facilitating the holding and the handling of ice during the treatment and which shall be so constructed that the treatment can be selfadministered or administered by another.

The above and any other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a back plan view of the massage device showing, by means of broken lines, a hand in place;

Figure 2 is a view showing the front of the device;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view showing the manner in which the device is held during use; and

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a front view and a side view, partly broken away showing the device attached to a handle.

The device that forms the subject of this invention is, generally speaking, a rubber bag having one end open for the reception of broken pieces of ice. The front side is provided with a plurality of openings through which ice water may escape and the back is provided with a plurality of straps in the form of loops by means of which the device can be secured to the hand of the operator.

In the drawing, reference numeral l0 designates the back and reference numeral H the front of the device, or bag, the back HI being shorter than the front II, as shown in Figure 1, wherein the extension or flap portion [3 extends beyond the opening l2. The size of this massaging device is substantially the same as that of an ordinary hand and has its upper end open as indicated at l2, forming a passage through which pieces of ice may be positioned therein.

It will be observed from the drawing that the back side 10 terminates below the upper end of projecting portion 13, along line 12, forming an opening for the convenience of inserting ice. In Figures 3 and 4, the pieces of ice have been designated by reference numeral 14. There are, as shown in Figure 2, a number of holes [5 in the front side of the bag which permit the water from the melting ice to escape.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the back of the bag or the side adjacent the palm of the hand, is provided with two straps, one of which has been designated by reference numeral 16 and the other by H. Strap 16 forms a single loop through which the hand can be inserted in the manner shown in Figure 1. Strap I1 is formed into a plurality of loops like those designated by reference numeral 18 in Figure 4, there being one loop I8 for each finger. By this means the device is secured to the hand of the operator in such a way that it can be easily controlled.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that the device can be conveniently held during use, the thumb of the operator engaging the surface I l, pressing it towards the palm and closing opening 12 to prevent the device from slipping from the fingers and preventing the ice from falling out when the hand points upwardly.

In Figures 6 and '7, a handle 19 has been shown as secured to the massaging device. The handle is sometimes a convenience in reaching parts of the body that cannot very well be reached otherwise. In the drawing the handle and massaging device have been shown as secured together by means of spring slips that have been designated by reference numeral 20. Of course it is evident that any other suitable means can be employed for securing the massage device in place on the handle.

Although the material that is believed to be the most suitable for this purpose is a rubber com-position of the kind employed in hot water bottles and fountain syringe bags, it is, of course, obvious that any other suitable material may be used, such as a synthetic rubber or a suitable plastic of which many difierent kinds are now available.

The device manner:

The bag is first partly filled with small pieces of ice and secured to the hand by means of the straps in the manner illustrated, opening ll beis employed in the following ing on the side next to the palm of the hand. The perforated side is on the outside in position for massaging the body, for example, the face, neck and upper portions of the chest. Durin this massaging operation there will be a considerable amount of ice water liberated, and this is free to escape through holes 15 provided for this purpose. Although only a few holes have been shown in Figure 2, it is to be understood that these holes may be of any desired number and arranged in the most desirable positions, the location shown in the drawing being merely illustrative.

Attention is directed to the specific construction shown in which opening 82 is on the inside, or adjacent the palm of the hand, while in use; this enables the operator to exert sufficicnt pressure to prevent the ice from falling out when the hand is pointed upwardly as it usually is in massaging the face. straps as and I? are on the same side as opening l2 and strap H is looped as shown.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1- A massaging device for use in giving cold massages for surface stimulation, comprising, a rubber bag having one end open for the reception of ice, one side being foramina-ted to permit the ice water to escape as the ice melts, the other side having two longitudinally spaced strap loops adapted to receive a hand, the strap nearest the closed end being looped to provide separate finger receiving openings.

invention what is 2. A massaging device comprising a bag having a pair of walls of liquid impervious flexible sheet material, said device being adapted to lie on the palm and fingers of a hand, and the edges of the walls being of a shape to substantially conform to the periphery thereof, the walls being secured together at their edges except at the end of the bag remote from the finger tips, the later providing an opening for the reception of ice, at least one strap having its ends afiixed to the bag and extending in a direction transverse to the fingers of the hand for securing the bag thereto, the outer wall of the bag remote from the fingers and hand being foraminated to permit the escape of water.

ELLA M. STRAUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 

